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FRIDAY, November 13 will forever be etched on our minds for all of the wrong reasons.
I have always hated the number 13 and this hatred is cemented even more now.
I was sitting in Italy with my sister when the news flashed up on the screen. We were horrified to see the death toll rise as we watched in shocked silence at the television and on our social media sites.
The city of Paris was aching in pain as the world watched on.
I have thought about whether or not I would write about this in my column this week and I felt I had to.
Continued below…
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Before I go any further please remember that this is just my opinion and I realise that it may differ to yours.
Any loss of life is horrible, but murder is incomprehensible to me. People dying while celebrating a night out in one of the most beautiful cities is very hard to get one’s head around.
And so it began; the backlash against Muslims and Syrian refugees. I was appalled at some of the status updates on Facebook and the ill-timed tweets of many, including some of our elected members of the Dail.
Muslims are not responsible for what happened in Paris on Friday night – terrorists are. Just as catholics or protestants were not responsible for those who were slaughtered during the troubles in Northern Ireland. Terrorists were!
Syrian refugees are fleeing their country to get away from these terrorists, they are risking their lives to make the dangerous journey to try and find a better life.
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Ignorance is bliss as the saying goes. Not in this case though. In this case, ignorance is dangerous. Ignorance is inciting hatred towards innocent people and it has to stop. Ignorance is responsible for racism. Ignorance will kill!
Of course there are those that will argue that we should look after our own homeless first.
I completely understand this, but as a nation we have always been charitable and we can show charity and compassion to both our own and those who come to our country.
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Regarding the opinion that refugees should be vetted, I do agree with this. This lies with authorities to implement. We are neither judge or jury.
Tonight as you sit on your couch watching TV or looking at your smart phone, give a thought to those who are in a boat with nothing but the clothes on their backs in a boat risking life and limb for a better life.
Be kind to the innocent muslims in our town, they are not to blame.
Until next week,
Be human!
Orlagh xx
